presentation copy inscribed by Claude Cahun

Presentation copy, inscribed by Claude Cahun: 'á Germaine [Hennes] et J. Euzenat / Bien amicalement / Claude'.

Deharme and Cahun, who were both active in French surrealist circles, envisioned Le Coeur de Pic as a cohesive artwork. Cahun's photographs brought inanimate objects to life and encouraged older viewers to see the world through a child's perspective.

'Beyond its visual accomplishments, Le Coeur de Pic is also noteworthy as a collaborative project between two women artists. Well into the 1930s, surrealist women were still perceived as muses rather than creators, a realty that complicated collaborative projects between female artists and often resulted in the critical dismissal of their work' (What They Saw 94).

First edition, inscribed by Claude Cahun in different coloured pencils on first page; 4to (267 x 208 mm, 10½ x 8¼ in); 20 photographs printed in relief halftone, preface by Paul Eluard; lightly foxed plain pastedowns, red cloth-covered boards over green cloth spine, titles in black on upper side, colour photographic reproductions on upper and lower, rubbing to extremities and sides, pulling to head, a very good copy; [60]pp.

What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women 1843-1999 pp94-95.